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Monthly Archives: June 2016

Singapore is a terrific travel destination and is visited by millions of travellers, each year. The city’s most potent charm is its fabulous and appealing blend of modernity and quaint traditions as well as its remarkable natural beauty.

There is a lot more to the country that you can enjoy and explore; then there are things you must avoid as a traveller; and there are also certain important pieces of information that can contribute towards a happy holiday for you. Read all about it.

Singapore’s Changi Airport is widely considered the best managed airport in the world. It is among the largest transportation hubs in Southeast Asia and was adjudged the World’s Best Airport by Skytrax in 2016. Changi Airport is the hub for Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, Scoot and few other Singapore based carriers.

After being impressed with the airport, it will be time for you to explore the myriad attractions of this city-state. [sg_popup id="68"]Marina Bay[/sg_popup], KidZania, [sg_popup id="69"]Singapore Flyer[/sg_popup], Universal Studios, [sg_popup id="70"]Night Safari[/sg_popup], Jurong Bird Park, [sg_popup id="71"]Singapore Zoo[/sg_popup], Singapore Botanic Gardens, [sg_popup id="72"]Chinatown[/sg_popup] and Raffles Hotel are some of the many attractions that are loved by tourists who visit the city in large numbers. Singapore Flyer, and the Merlion, a depiction of a mythical creature with a lion’s head and a body, are two of the city’s most iconic images that have come to represent Singapore world over. Universal Studios are popular among family travellers and should definitely be on your list if you love motion pictures.

Singapore has some excellent, world renowned restaurants, serving most of the global delicacies. However, it is usually the local dishes that appeal more to leisure tourists who come here to explore more than just sites and attractions. Fish head curry is a big hit and so is satay (a skewered grilled meat dish served with rice cake). Do try out the chilli crab, it is fabulous and is available in most local restaurants.

Last but not the least, you must pay heed to certain useful travel tips and suggestions that will make sure you have an enjoyable and healthy vacation in Singapore. Mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue are common in the city and tourists must take appropriate precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Singapore is hot and humid most times of the year, come prepared with comfortable and light clothes. Getting around in Singapore is extremely easy as different means of public transport is available, but perhaps none more popular than the MRT (mass rapid transit) train system. Another important point to remember is that Singapore has some strict laws against littering and spitting. It is a surprisingly clean city and these laws are in place to make sure that it remains so.

Scores of bands will enthral fans with compelling music spanning various genres. Music lovers will surely fancy a trip to this place during the festival.

About The Festival

This is one of Europe’s five most acclaimed festivals and draws a huge number of fans and followers. Every day, except for the first day from noon till late night, the bands treat the crowds to electrifying performances featuring some of their best compositions. The festival is frequented by visitors from neighbouring countries.

The stage area is usually in the midst of a big field with trees dotting the landscape. Tents are set up for people and three huge stages become the focal point for these few days. The loud music may get to your head and a much needed break with frites and beer at a far corner will energise you for what is about to come. The best part of this festival is that it stays true to its theme by solely focusing upon music.

The festival has played host to the likes of likes of Bruno Mars, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, U2, Metallica, Foo Fighters and many more in the past. The sale of tickets usually starts in the first week of December and gets sold out by mid January.

This year marks the 42nd chapter of this event and will feature world famous artists such as Paul Mc Cartney, Ellie Goulding, Guy Harvey, James Blake, Rammstien, Band of Horses, Foals and many others.

Further Important Information

The authorities will open campsites to accommodate the huge number of visitors. You can also buy drink/ food coupons in advance and use it at the festival venue. Beer lovers are in for a treat as alcohol is allowed but strict regulations are in place to restrict sale to anyone under the age of 16.

India is a popular travel destination with spectacular mountain and hill ranges, huge lush forests, amazing deserts and pristine coastlines. The country is also popular as a spiritual and a historical destination. Furthermore, in recent times, India has been slowly turning into a hub of adventure sports for domestic as well as for travellers. The abundance of different landscapes allows the country to offer various adventure opportunities such as caving, paragliding, white water rafting, zip lining, scuba diving to name a few.

Dune Bashing

Dune bashing, also known as desert safari in India, is a popular adventure sport.

The Thar Desert, Jaisalmer, promises travellers lots of memorable dune bashing experiences. The Sam Dunes of Jaisalmer are famous for dune bashing rides, apart from the traditional camel rides.

Spelunking

Spelunking, better known as caving, is another popular adventure sport in the country. After all, the country’s north-eastern state of Meghalaya has some of South Asia’s longest and deepest caves, which lie mysteriously within waterfalls and forests. Caving at the mystifying Mawsmai Caves, Bat Caves, Krem Phyllut Cave and Krem Mawmluh is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.

Zip Lining

A thrilling aerial sport, zip lining offers spectacular views as you zip between hills, ridgetops, forts and jungles suspended from steel zip lines. There are many popular zip lining spots in India such as Mussoorie, Kerwa Dam in Bhopal and Neemrana Fort-Palace near Jaipur. Neemrana is particularly popular for its zip lining facilities amidst hill forts and ridge tops.

Bungee Jumping

Bungee jumping is certainly not a sport for the faint hearted. It requires jumping off a 50-120 meter high bridge or a cliff with feet tied to a rope. This test of courage is a huge sport worldwide and is highly sort after in the country. Some places popular for bungee jumping in India are Rishikesh, Bangalore, Lonavala and Goa.

Heli Skiing

Heli skiing involves skiing down some of the highest altitude peaks that are accessible only by a helicopter.

Surprisingly, there is not one but many ski resorts in India that organise heli skiing. Auli, Rohtang, Gulmarg and Manali are popular spots for heli skiing in India.

Sky Diving

Sky diving is an extreme adventure sport that is still in its nascent stage in the country.

It is an adrenaline pumping experience that is popularly undertaken in Mysore in Karnataka, Dhana in Madhya Pradesh, Deesa in Gujarat, and Aamby Valley in Maharashtra.

Touted to be the world’s biggest music festival, Summerfest 2016 is just around the corner! The musical extravaganza is slated to take place on June 29-July 3 and July 5-10 at Henry Maier Festival Park, Wisconsin, USA.

Summerfest 2016 will be 11 days of pure fun, with more than 800 acts and over 1000 artists performing live across 11 stages to enthral 900,000 music enthusiasts! The event is known for showcasing big headline acts by music industry’s hottest starts along with performances by local bands and up-and-coming artists.

What to expect?

Loads of music, music and more music! This year, the annual music festival will feature headline acts by music bigwigs Selena Gomez, Pitbull, Sting, Paul McCartney, Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton. Within days, the park will turn into a haven for music lovers featuring music of all genres such as rock, reggae, pop, Zydeco, jazz, alternative, country and R&B.

Apart from the music, Summerfest is famous for offering visitors a variety of food and beverage choices with more than 45 spots serving lip-smacking delicacies. Enjoy the festival’s official drink, Miller Lite along with donuts, spaghetti, fajitas, ribs and much more. Visitors can also enjoy shopping at the fest’s four marketplaces that sell everything from clothes to jewellery, home accessories to artwork and official Summerfest merchandise, such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, drink ware and hats. There is also plenty of family and kids activities to keep children busy and happy, which includes kids theatre, play zone, kids activity tent and many more.

Tickets

With just a few days remaining, tickets for the festival are now available online. Visitors can buy these print-at-home tickets from the website store.summerfest.com. However, these tickets are not applicable for the Marcus Amphitheater shows. Marcus Amphitheater has reserved tickets, which can be bought from ticketmaster.com or from the Summerfest Box Office.

Stages

There are 11 stages on which artists perform their musical acts. Some of the bigger ones are mentioned below.

Marcus Amphitheater

The Marcus Amphitheater is the main stage, which has a capacity of 23,000 seats. This is the stage where the well known music stars perform during the festival. Separate tickets have to be purchased for the amphitheatre.

BMO Harris Pavilion

The BMO Harris Pavilion has a capacity of 5000 seats, with additional capacity to hold 5000 more audience in its standing room viewing area. The pavilion offers great views of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan.

‘Running of the Bulls’, a part of the bigger San Fermin Festival, is held annually from 6th to 14th July in Spain. This festival in Pamplona is a congregation of a huge number of people enthusiastically waiting to run in front of raging bulls, displaying their bravado!!

The 825 m race starts exactly at 8 o’clock from Santo Domingo in the morning. The charge of the bulls culminates in a bull ring not very far from the corral from where it all starts. This festival is highly popular with Spaniards as well as tourists who visit the city during this time of the year.

Historical Relevance

‘Running of the Bulls’ is one of the major festivals that complete the San Fermin festivities. ‘Encerrio’, as the race is popularly known as, started in the mid 17th century as an activity of driving the bulls from outside of the city to the ring in the market place. Over the period of time, this act received popular acceptance as a sport. The race lasts less than five minutes.

Reserve a Space!

The perfect space to enjoy the sight of the bulls thunderously rushing through the cobblestone streets of Pamplona is the balconies of the apartments all across the streets. The viewing areas are very few in numbers and are mostly occupied hours before the race. Arrive early in the morning and claim a decent spot available, preferably somewhere behind the barricades.

Reaching Pamplona and Staying There

The easiest access to this city is through domestic flights from either Madrid or Barcelona. Train and bus services are also quite a hit among tourist and connect most major cities.

The event is such a hit that the hotels and other accommodation options are sold out well in advance. It is essential that your room bookings are made well in advance. Another alternative is to book an accommodation in places like Estella and Vitoria which are at a couple of hours drive from Pamplona.

Other attractions in Pamplona

Apart from the festivities that mark the San Fermin Festival, you can visit the beautiful old town of Pamplona – Casco Viejo. The medieval architecture, all across the town, is still preserved and is sure to delight travellers. The Castle Square, the City Hall, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria are some of the other popular attractions in and around Pamplona.

Bikers! Pack your bags and get your bikes ready to roar into one of the biggest motorcycle rallies in the world – the 76th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2016. This amazing biker fest is held in Sturgis, South Dakota, the USA, usually in the first full week of August.

This year, it is being held from August 8 to August 14, with some of the festivities and events of this grand party starting from as early as August 2. For non-bikers as well, a visit to Sturgis during the festival will mean numerous opportunities to enjoy the gorgeous Black Hills of South Dakota, the thrills of bike shows, demo rides, concerts and racing events.

History

One of the oldest gatherings of motorcycle enthusiasts in the world, the first rally was held in 1938 for displaying motorcycle stunts and races. But over the years, the rally has developed into a meeting ground for bikers from around the world.

The motorcycle rally has also become a major source of income for the city of Sturgis. The internationally-acclaimed rally not only draws massive crowds from all around the world, but also hosts notable motorcycle legends and superstars.

Events

This year, the pre-rally events, which will be held between August 2 and August 7, will include musical band shows showcasing country and rock music, theatre shows, patriotic flag display, a motor bike art exhibition, helicopter rides, karaoke, skating bout and free bike wash services.
Around 28 to 43 events will be held each day from August 8 to August 14, except the last day when just four closing events will be held. In addition to the above mentioned, City Mayor’s Ride will take visitors across the Black Hill’s spectacular two lane roads and byways, with a stopover at Mount Rushmore, and further ride till Custer State Park where the Mayor will host a luncheon for all visitors. Other notable events include half mile flat track and short track races, hooligan races, bike hill climbs and bike shows and awards.

Food and Accommodation

There will be plenty of easily available food and accommodation options for travellers of every kind. Travellers can choose from a variety of lodging alternatives, hotels, motels, cabins and cottages. Also, one can simply opt to camp with thousands of bike lovers at the camping grounds in Sturgis. As for food, there are plenty of restaurants offering classic American menu for visitors. Chilled beers will be available at the many biker bars around the city.

Visitors are advised to book their preferred accommodation well in advance as the city is super-busy and packed during the rally and it could get difficult to get accommodation at the last minute.

With multiple theme parks, pristine beaches, unique wildlife and the largest coral reef on the planet, Australia is a hotspot for international travellers.

Below, we have mentioned some of the fun-packed experiences that’ll make your trip to the country truly remarkable!

Skydive in Mission Beach

Mission Beach is an ideal location for adventure buffs wanting to skydive. Over 60 seconds of free-fall allows participants to enjoy the spectacular views of the Great Barrier Reef, tropical islands and rainforest all at once! This 14000 feet free-fall is accomplished with the guidance of first-class tandem masters. People should be wearing comfortable clothes and closed-in shoes. Children below 12 years of age are not allowed to participate in this activity. Experienced individuals can fly their own parachute.

Shark Cage Diving in Port Lincoln

Shark Cage Diving is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and totally unmissable! Participants are put into the ocean with Great White Sharks. Generally, the male sharks are 11 to 13 feet while the female sharks are 15 feet to 16 feet. During this dive, people are protected by only a cage! There are two main diving areas viz. North Neptune and South Neptune Islands, situated 30-40 Nautical Miles from Port Lincoln. These are the only islands in Australia that are permitted to perform Shark Cage Diving.

Drive on the Great Ocean Road

Travellers hoping to admire the beautiful views of Australia’s south coast must enjoy a drive on the iconic Great Ocean Road. This 243-kilometre stretch of road lies between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. Tourists can check out the art, and natural and cultural attractions located near it. For example, huge oceanic waves can be seen on Bell’s Beach. People can treat their taste buds at different restaurants and cafes of the region. Few of them are Fisho’s Torquay, Rebecca’s Cafe and Ice Cream Shop, Logan’s Cafe Restaurant, and Fen Restaurant.

Daintree River Cruises

Daintree River supports a stunning variety of marine life. While cruising down the river, people can spot saltwater crocodiles! A well-informed guide will share his knowledge about the predator, native plants and other natural surroundings. Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruises and Bruce Belcher’s Daintree River Cruises are two of the services that are being run here.

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of Sydney from the well-known Harbour Bridge that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. Starting from the Climb Base below the Bradfield Highway, individuals will have to reach the top after passing Bridge’s outer arch on the Opera House side. All in all, there are 1,332 steps to climb.

Travel and music – the combination of the two is sure to give enough reasons to music loving nomads to leave their mundane lives (at least for some time) and enjoy some of the biggest and the best music festivals in Asia!

Java Jazz Festival, Indonesia

The Java Jazz Festival is held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in the first half of March every year. As the name suggests, it is a festival promoting and celebrating the music genre Jazz. The Java Jazz Festival is held over a period of three days and is said to be the biggest jazz festival in South Asia. It is also considered to be Jakarta’s largest musical gathering with an average footfall of around 50,000 over the festival period.

Neverland Manila, the Philippines

Neverland Manila is electronic dance music (EDM) festival that is organised in the first half of October every year in Manila, the Philippines. The event has been dubbed as the ‘biggest EDM event in the Philippines’. The festival is meant for hard core party lovers, who get a chance to see their favourite and the biggest names in the genre perform live during the festival.

Rainforest World Music Festival, Malaysia

The Rainforest World Music Festival is an annual music festival that is held in Kuching, Borneo in Malaysia. This one-of-a-kind festival celebrates local and international music. The three-day festival is sold out every year. It is a rainforest themed festival and is held in Mid-August every year. The festival sees lectures, workshops, jam sessions, mini concerts in the afternoons and performances in the evenings.

Sunburn, India

The Sunburn is another major EDM festival that is held in Goa, India, in the latter half of December every year. The festival is particularly popular with the locals in the beach state of Goa and with the beat-seeking backpackers and urban nomads. The festival, which is held on Candolim beach, sees a gathering of more than 50,000 people each year. The festival’s motto is ‘live, love, dance’ and it features different kinds of live acts in the EDM genre.

Fuji Rock Festival, Japan

The Fuji Rock Festival is organised each summer at the Naeba ski resort in Tokyo, Japan. The festival is held with different themes (and acts) every year, such as 2014′s Arcade Fire and the Flaming Lips. The rock festival attracts massive crowds of more than 100,000 rock enthusiasts every year.

Spain’s popular food fight festival called La Tomatina is round the corner! Every year, this celebration takes place on the last Wednesday of August. Following the same trend, La Tomatina will be observed on 31st of August this year at the Plaza del Pueblo, Buñol. Around 150 tonnes of tomatoes are supposed to rain down on participants during the event!

The official festivity is scheduled to begin at 10 AM. The first challenge will be Palo Jabon, a long greased pole with ham on its top. To elaborate, a person needs to climb up the pole and make the ham drop. In the meantime, those on the ground sing and dance in circles. When this is done, a water shot is fired on air and soon the area turns red due to the abundance of smashed tomatoes. The estimated number of tomatoes used is around 150,000 kg. After exactly one hour, the fight ends with the firing of the second shot. Participants can clean themselves from the hoses that locals provide or go to the pool of “los peñones” to wash off.

Rules to Follow

• Participants should not bring bottles or hard objects as they can cause harm

• Participants need to squash the tomatoes before throwing them. This is done to lessen the impact

• Participants must not tear anybody’s clothes while enjoying the festival

• Participants need to maintain some distance from the trucks

• Participants should immediately stop throwing the tomatoes after hearing the second shot

Suggestions

• Closed shoes are best for La Tomatina. In flip-flops, participants might get hurt or can lose them easily during the battle

• Amateur and professional photographers should bring waterproof cameras

• Wear old clothes or ones that are not to be used again. During the battle, they might get damaged, torn or dirty

• Goggles prove useful. If not using them, participants should have something to wipe their eyes

• Both domestic and international travellers should book accommodation in advance

Accommodation

International travellers can put up in the port city of Valencia and make a day trip to Buñol for the festival. There are packages available that include hotel accommodation and transportation. Needless to say, prices vary as per the stay preference.

History

There’s no definite evidence on how La Tomatina originated, but according to a popular theory, dissatisfied townspeople revolted and attacked the city councilmen with tomatoes during a celebration. The act of throwing tomatoes was enjoyed to such an extent that people continued to play it year after year. In 2002, La Tomatina of Buñol was declared a Festivity of International Tourist Interest by the Secretary Department of Tourism.

The US State of Arizona is a paradise with a fiery display of colourful geological features, lush greens and amazing flora and fauna. We list down some of the most famous natural attractions of this place, which make it a paradise for nature lovers.

1. Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is the most famous tourist attraction of the US state of Arizona. The Grand Canyon has been granted a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The canyon is massive in area and is home to millions of rare and common flora and fauna. A visit to the Grand Canyon is a must for travellers visiting Arizona.

2. Petrified Forest National Park

The Petrified Forest National Park is a picturesque haven for nature lovers. The park holds a spectacular collection of petrified wood, which are bits and pieces of very old trees that have changed into vividly coloured minerals due to continuous geological processes. The park is also decked with remnants of ancient human civilisation.

3. Meteor Crater

Another breathtaking and massive bounty of Mother Earth on Arizona, the Meteor Crater was formed in Flagstaff, Arizona more than 50,000 years ago by the impact of a meteorite. It has been the centre of attraction for decades, not only for travellers but also for scientists. Also known as the Barringer Crater, this best preserved impact crater in the world is 570 feet deep and around 4000 feet wide.

4. Havasu Falls

The Havasu Falls are located in the Grand Canyon. The falls are best known for the blue-green colour of the water in the pool created at the base of the falls. Travellers can only reach the waterfall after a rather difficult hike.

5. Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is located on the Navajo land outside Page in Arizona. In geographic terms, it is a ‘slot’ canyon in marvellous pastel colours with spinning sculptural shapes on sandstone, which have been created over millions of years.

6. Horseshoe Bend/Colorado River

The Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped meander section on the Colorado River situated close to the town of Page in Arizona. Visitors can view the structure from the steep cliff above. Visitors can reach the place by hiking, rafting expeditions or through an access road that reaches the geological structure.

7. San Francisco Peaks

The San Francisco Peaks are a volcanic mountain range that provides an excellent place for some outdoor recreation like hiking for most part of the year and snow skiing during winters. The picturesque range contains the Mount Elden, a peak which can be easily accessible via a trail system.

8. Devil’s Bridge Trail

Devil’s Bridge is one of the most popular hiking trails in the hiker’s paradise of Sedona in Arizona. The trail offers some beautiful scenery of the natural rocky surroundings. The Devil’s Bridge is a natural sandstone structure which can be reached through a natural rock staircase which offers some awesome views of lush green valleys and red-rock canyons.

9. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

The Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is a lesser known tourist attraction. However, the place offers truly breathtaking views of ancient sandstone formations and peaks in fiery colours formed by the Paria River. Apart from scenic beauty, the place houses interesting fauna such as rattlesnakes and scorpions.

10. Red Rock State Park

The Red Rock State Park in Sedona is a place to be for adventure seekers. Travellers can enjoy many outdoor activities such as hiking, horseback riding and wildlife spotting. The park acts as a nature preserve and environmental education centre with some rare and exotic flora and fauna.